King enjoys his reign on the wing

ONE of the key ingredients in Worksop Town’s resurgence this season has been the form of 22-year-old Craig King.

Without question the surprise package of the season, King has delighted home supporters with his pace, creativity and end product on the wings, despite coming to the club as a striker.

The former Scotland Under 19 international has three goals to his name, including a strong contender for Goal of the Season at Chorley, when he smashed a 25-yard volley into the top corner.

But it is his ability to beat full-backs and deliver crosses into the box that has really added to the Worksop Town set-up.

And he told the Guardian he couldn’t be happier at the club.

“Towards the end of last season I wasn’t getting in the team as much as I’d like, but this season I’ve been doing really well in games.”

“I want to keep it up, keep giving the fans what they want.”

Then turnaround in fortunes on the pitch for King and his team-mates, which began in earnest at Hednesford Town in September, has helped build a healthy working environment, for both staff and players.

King believes that in turn has helped them pick up even more points, with Saturday’s fightback at AFC Fylde a prime example.

“It’s a great place to be,” he said.

“The lads are getting round each other, there’s good banter between us, and between us and the staff. There’s a great atmosphere, and it showed when we went 2-1 down, gritted our teeth and battled for each other and got a point.”

Although the former Leicester City player has spent most of his career as a striker, he says he’s as satisfied by assisting goals as scoring them, and has no problem featuring on the flanks for Tigers.

“I started off as a centre forward, but I can play out on the wing. I’m really enjoying it.”

“Setting them up is as satisfying as scoring goals.”

“I’ve not scored as many as I’d like, but setting them up is like scoring for me.”

One of the highlights of the season to date was King’s spectacular goal at Chorley, and he’s still smiling about it three weeks later.

He added: “It’s come to me on the edge of the box and sat up, I’ve hit it and it’s flew in.”

“I scored a similar one for the youth team at Leicester, but never scored a better one in the league in a game like that.”

“I enjoyed that, I don’t know if it was recorded but I’d love to see it again.”

Tigers fans would presumably like to see it again too, or another goal like it, but as long as the youngster continues to dazzle defenders out wide, King will be providing enough highlights to keep the Worksop fanbase royaly pleased.